Sinn Féin - On Your Side

Irish government failed to communicate EU Constitution to the Irish people

Sinn Féin MEP for Dublin Mary Lou McDonald has today accused the Irish
government of failing to properly communicate the content and ramifications
of the EU Constitution to the Irish people. Ms McDonald said that "the
government had been more concerned with concluding negotiations on the EU
Constitution than communicating its content to the people".

Ms McDonald made her comments after a European survey revealed that nearly
50% of Irish people were not even aware of the existence of the EU
Constitution. The survey was carried out by "EU Barometer".

Speaking from Brussels Ms McDonald said:

"During Ireland's Presidency of the European Union, Sinn Féin consistently
called upon the Irish government to effectively communicate the content and
ramifications of the proposed EU Constitution to the people. The results of
this survey show that nearly 50% of Irish people are not even aware of the
existence of the EU Constitution.

"Considering agreement on the EU Constitution was reached during Ireland's
stewardship of the European Union, then clearly this represents a monumental
failure on the part of the government. It became increasingly clear during
that period that the government was more concerned with concluding
negotiations on the EU Constitution than communicating its content to the
people.

"The government has a duty to inform citizens in a non-partisan manner
regarding fundamental changes which may effect them. It is not good enough
for the government to only communicate the contents of this far-reaching
document in the period leading up to the referendum on the issue. By that
stage it will be much too late." ENDS